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Receiving options...

Our highest-graded group of receivers in the league? The Patriots? Packers? Saints? Nope. Those teams might have the history and hype, but through four games this season they donít even make our shortlist. Looking at the complete collections of receiving options out there, thereís one that is riding higher than the rest.

Itís a well-rounded Baltimore Ravens unit whose speed and pass-catching are overwhelming defenses with impact plays. For years it seemed like the Ravens had all the pieces in place for championship-caliber team, but always came up short because they never had the receiving threats to keep defenses honest. Baltimore finally appeared to turn that corner last year and now have arguably the most complete receiving arsenal in the NFL.

Second-year man, Torrey Smith (+6.1 receiving) is the speed burner and itís his presence as a deep threat that sets up the rest of the Ravensí passing attack. For proof, you need look no further than Baltimoreís very first offensive play of the season, a 52-yard reception to Smith on a post route. Smith lines up almost exclusively on the outside and has had most of his big plays on go routes. When DBís start playing off, heíll counter with a few slants and hitches ó the perfect set up for double moves. By the end of it all, heís got DBís turning in circles (see BAL @ PHI, 3Q 3:19). Nearly 60% of his targets are 20 yards or more downfield and he leads the NFL with 16 targets and seven catches on deep passes.

Playing the role of the savvy possession receiver is veteran Anquan Boldin (+2.2). Boldin does much of the dirty work: slants, crossing patterns, in routes, and mostly from the slot (62% of passing snaps). While he may be the guy moving the sticks, the Ravens wonít hesitate to send him deep out of the slot (CLE @ BAL 2Q 12:34) or with corner routes underneath Smithís goís (CLE @ BAL 3Q 12:49).

When Boldin moves inside, Jacoby Jones takes the outside. Jones has probably been the surprise of the group; he was a starter for the Texans last year, but didnít produce much. With Smith eating up safety help on his side of the field, Jones has been making hay on goís and posts to the other side. Heís pulled in nine receptions and logged a +4.5 pass grade on the season.

At the TE position, itís Dennis Pitta (+2.2) doing most of the receiving. Before getting blanked against Cleveland last week, Pitta was averaging six receptions per game. He lines up in the slot on 72% of his passing downs and at 6-foot-4 and 245 pounds, heís difficult to defend. Linebackers donít have the speed to stay with him, and defensive backs have trouble tackling him ó go low to bring the big guy down, and he leaps over you (NE @ BAL 2Q 1:53). Pitta is a threat in the red zone with two touchdowns already on the year.

Ray Rice was our highest-graded receiver out of the backfield for the 2009 and 2011 season and the second-highest in 2010. He tops the list again so far this season with a +4.5 grade. Baltimore likes to keep Rice in to pass protect and then release him late in the play is a dump-off option for Joe Flacco. With all the long ball stuff going on, youíve got linebackers dropping deep and a whole lot of space for Rice to work his after-the-catch magic underneath. Heís forced five missed tackles after receptions this season, second only to Trent Richardson among RBs.

Great hands make good grades at PFF. Of the five, only Rice has a dropÖ one.

Re: Receiving options...

It's hard to say how good they actually are.
While Torrey and Jacoby can take the top of teams we still lack a true redzone threat. The further we are from the endzone the better chance we have to score.
And we don't have any sharp route runner.

Re: Receiving options...

Originally Posted by goldenelite28

It's hard to say how good they actually are.
While Torrey and Jacoby can take the top of teams we still lack a true redzone threat. The further we are from the endzone the better chance we have to score.
And we don't have any sharp route runner.

Re: Receiving options...

Our receivers are good. We're finally up there in the top ten in the NFL in receivers I think. Close to it, at least.

But best in the NFL? Um, no. Anyone here who wouldn't trade this group out for, say, the Falcons or Lions is absolutely insane.

- C -

If it's just wide receivers, then yes, I'd take either of those sets (and lean towards the Falcons, if only slightly). But if the RB is factored in, no way. Can't give up Rice for Turner or Leshoure, both of whom are non-factors as receivers. When fully healthy and factoring in all skill position players, the answer is probably the Saints or the Eagles, both of whom have receiving backs that rival Rice in the passing game, TEs that are the equal or superior of Pitta, and good WRs as well. Patriots would be in the discussion considering their pair of TEs, though their backs are still inferior to Rice. Regardless... it's really nice to be in the discussion for the first time in franchise history. That said, we're going to need another WR soon as the mileage piles up on Boldin. I don't know if Doss is that guy.

Let's see if Flacco can keep this going on the road at KC, because after that game we have a pair of tough pass defenses coming up. We'll need to be excellent if we're going to pass successfully against Ware's Cowboys or Watt's Texans.

Re: Receiving options...

Of course the article isn't saying that the receivers alone are best in the NFL, it's saying that in terms of receiving options the Ravens are the most well-rounded and have the deepest group of well-performing receiving options so far in the season.

Re: Receiving options...

Our receivers are good. We're finally up there in the top ten in the NFL in receivers I think. Close to it, at least.

But best in the NFL? Um, no. Anyone here who wouldn't trade this group out for, say, the Falcons or Lions is absolutely insane.

- C -

The Lions have absolute dogshit at RB, and one decent TE. Of course they have Calvin Johnson who even though right now is having an off form season, he still is IMO the best WR in the league. Outside of Johnson, they don't have anyone special, they don't have a guy who is as good as Boldin or Smith. So overall I'd say we have a better receiving group if you count in Rice, Pitta, Smith, JJ, Boldin, and hell even Dickson and Tandon Doss are factors in this offense.

The Falcons is hard to argue with because of the three guys they have that are going to rack up an enromous amount of yards every week. Can't get much better than Julio Jones, and Roddy White. But again, Michael Turner is just a runner at this point in his career, he isn't a pass catching machine like Rice. They also don't really have the depth we have.

So I'm not sure if we are purely the BEST in the league in terms of receiving, but I would go further than top 10 and say top 5, just because of the number of guys we have catching the ball. We don't have a Calvin Johnson, Andre Johnson, or a Larry Fitzgerald. What we have is a number of solid receivers, one who is emerging into an elite WR, and has potential to be as good as what Mike Wallace has been in the last 2 seasons.

Re: Receiving options...

Our receivers are good. We're finally up there in the top ten in the NFL in receivers I think. Close to it, at least.

But best in the NFL? Um, no. Anyone here who wouldn't trade this group out for, say, the Falcons or Lions is absolutely insane.

- C -

In PFF's defence, their judgement is based on how well each group has performed so far. Whilst it's completely true that any fan with half a brain would take the Falcons WRs over Smith, Boldin et al, PFF are simply pointing out that the Ravens have the best performing WRs in the league after 4 weeks. They didn't say that the Ravens receiving core is better, just the best performing so far.

Re: Receiving options...

Originally Posted by inexplicable

In PFF's defence, their judgement is based on how well each group has performed so far. Whilst it's completely true that any fan with half a brain would take the Falcons WRs over Smith, Boldin et al, PFF are simply pointing out that the Ravens have the best performing WRs in the league after 4 weeks. They didn't say that the Ravens receiving core is better, just the best performing so far.

True. Reception-for-reception, we do not have the best unit in the NFL...but we have a system that seems to exploit Joe's strengths, mask our OLs weaknesses to some extent, and for the most part, puts our WRs/TEs in positions to be successful. On top of that, everyone has to respect Rice as a threat running and receiving. It's a nice system that will only become more effective as the season rolls along...just as long as Cammie and Joe can continuously implement new wrinkles along the way.